Page 71 - JCBP-3-4

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Intervention through natural/digital art

Given the above background, the aim of this study “Digital Holiday Light Show,” as described in Section 2.4
is to investigate whether the use of light in the form of below.
an illumination event is effective in maintaining the
psychological health of nursing home residents, including 2.2. LED pixel illumination at the south courtyard
those with mild cognitive impairment, and in fostering First, the three trees in the courtyard
their prosocial motivation. We also aim to verify whether (Figure 1C-① and Figure 2A) were chosen as the main
this approach contributes to improving the quality of life objects of the lighting design. The central tree was a weeping
of nursing home residents. For this purpose, we chose a cherry (Cerasus itosakura [Sieb.] Masam. and Suzuki f.
strategy that involves designing works using programming itosakura), flanked by two Prunus × yedoensis “Somei-
to control LED decorations that incorporate natural trees yoshino” cherry trees (Cerasus × yedoensis “Somei-yoshino”)
and the outdoor ground—a method that has proven on either side. These trees were fitted with champagne-gold
successful in attracting visitors of all generations to our LED strings, which illuminate the branches all the way to
previous LED illumination events. their tips. Further details are provided in Section 2.3.

When selecting the color for the LED design, we Next, as part of the surface area design, three full-color,
referred to literature on wavelengths that are more likely bullet-shaped LEDs were arranged in a grid pattern on the
to be visually comfortable for senior citizens, avoiding courtyard floor. Each grid measured 7.5 cm in width on the
excessive stimulation. We chose a champagne gold color, string and 20 cm in depth between the strings (Figure 2B).
which is a white shade with a yellow tinge. The literature To create a three-dimensional sense of depth, LED
12
suggests that older people often experience a yellowing floodlights were used to color the branches and leaves of
of their visual sense, with a shift towards the blue-yellow the thicket behind the courtyard. These floodlights were
spectrum.
controlled using digital multiplex protocol, a standard
2. Materials and methods method for digital communication to control lighting and
effects in entertainment fields. 13
2.1. Layout design of three different areas in the
south courtyard of the senior home Each lighting group in these three areas was connected
to a control board and was synchronized for control by
As in previous years, the illumination event was held in the Xlights, as described in Section 2.4.
courtyard to the south of Izumi-en (Figure 1A and B). The
event ran for 2 months, from December 1 to January 31. 2.3. Single-color production using champagne-gold
In this project, the courtyard was designed to be electric lighting for the three cherry trees
divided into three main areas (Figure 1C and ①–③), each Champagne gold-colored LED strings, consisting of 200
featuring a different LED lighting fixture. The illumination pieces, were measured using the MK350 spectrometer
of Izumi Garden was planned using the format of the (UPRtek) and arranged as shown in Figure 3 below.

A B

C

Figure 1. The senior nursing home building and its courtyard with trees. (A) View of Izumi-en building; (B) South courtyard; (C) Top view layout of the
south courtyard for illumination placement.
Notes: ① Three cherry trees; ② Ground covered with lines of lights at regular intervals; ③ The backwoods.

Volume 3 Issue 4 (2025) 65 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.5740